Artificial lighting currently accounts for between fifteen and twenty percent of global energy usage, so maximising the availability of natural light in buildings must be a priority for designers and developers.
Rooflights save energy and reduce harmful emissions
Rooflights provide up to three times more light than the same area of vertical glazing, to provide a highly efficient means of reducing the demand for supplementary artificial lighting during daylight hours.
Research commissioned by us and carried out by the De Montfort University’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, showed that where rooflights are installed, minimal losses in thermal insulation are greatly offset by energy savings resulting from reduced demand for electric lighting and that generally speaking, the greater the rooflight area the greater the potential energy savings and corresponding reductions in CO2 emissions from power generation.
Further studies commissioned by us have highlighted means by which solar overheating in buildings can be controlled, and the potential for greater energy savings through the integration of automatically controlled electric lighting, with natural daylighting.
Rooflights can also provide opportunities for ventilation, which as well as improving internal environments, can further reduce energy requirements by minimising dependence on powered climate control systems.
Our Technical Committee was instrumental in collecting, analysing and interpreting rooflighting data upon which the regulations pertaining to rooflighting in The Building Regulations Approved Document L (Conservation of fuel & power), have been based.
Using rooflights delivers cost savings, improved health & well-being for building occupants and a tangible contribution to achieving the government’s Net Zero target.
Sustainability has been a key driver in The Association’s work, since its inception in 1998. As such, we have published many documents and guides covering different aspects of the topic.
Key examples are listed below:
An introduction to natural daylight design through rooflighting
Analysis of improving daylighting and lighting controls on a number of existing non-domestic buildings
Understanding rooflight u-values
Market Director, VELUX
At Velux, Alex heads the company’s core residential window operations in the UK and Ireland. He is a seasoned leader with extensive knowledge and experience across various manufacturing and consumer industries both in the UK and overseas. He is passionate about promoting healthy homes through natural daylight and fresh air, energy conservation and sustainable building design.
Market Director, VELUX
At VELUX, Alex heads the company’s core residential window operations in the UK and Ireland. He is a seasoned leader with extensive knowledge and experience across various manufacturing and consumer industries both in the UK and overseas. He is passionate about promoting healthy homes through natural daylight and fresh air, energy conservation and sustainable building design.
Head of Rooflight Technology, Brett Martin Daylight Systems
Stuart is a mechanical engineer with 26 years’ experience in the rooflight industry, mainly concentrating on the industrial rooflight market. He currently chairs the Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee as well as sitting on the European committee for the development of rooflight standards (TC128/SC9 working groups 2 and 3), he also represents us on the Advisory Committee for Roofwork.
Head of Rooflight Technology, Brett Martin Daylight Systems
Stuart is a mechanical engineer with 26 years’ experience in the rooflight industry, mainly concentrating on the industrial rooflight market. He currently chairs the Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee as well as sitting on the European committee for the development of rooflight standards (TC128/SC9 working groups 2 and 3), he also represents us on the Advisory Committee for Roofwork.
Managing Director & Vice-Chairman of Hambleside Danelaw Limited.
Chris has been with Hambleside Danelaw for over 35 years and nearly all of this time has been as Managing Director. He is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. Chris is the long-standing Treasurer of the Association since he was first appointed back in 2008. In his spare time, he enjoys competitive sailing in both the Flying Fifteen and Finn classes.
Managing Director & Vice-Chairman of Hambleside Danelaw Limited.
Chris has been with Hambleside Danelaw company for over 35 years and nearly all of this time has been as Managing Director. He is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. Chris is the long-standing Treasurer of the Association since he was first appointed back in 2008. In his spare time, he enjoys competitive sailing in both the Flying Fifteen and Finn classes.
Group Technical Director, Glazing Vision
Jeremy is a mechanical engineer with 38 years experience in the glazing industry, 34 of which have been working with rooflights. He sits on The Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee and represents us at Eurolux, the European trade association for rooflights and smoke ventilation. Jeremy currently chairs BSI Committee B/542/8 the mirror committee to CEN/TC128/SC9/WG2 where he is also a member representing BSI. He is a member of the CPR Aquis Sub-group 4 at the European Commission.
Group Technical Director, Glazing Vision
Jeremy is a mechanical engineer with 38 years experience in the glazing industry, 34 of which have been working with rooflights. He sits on The Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee and represents us at Eurolux, the European trade association for rooflights and smoke ventilation. Jeremy currently chairs BSI Committee B/542/8 the mirror committee to CEN/TC128/SC9/WG2 where he is also a member representing BSI. He is a member of the CPR Aquis Sub-group 4 at the European Commission.
Technical Director, Kingspan Light + Air
Conor has worked in the Smoke Control, Ventilation and Daylighting Industry since 1987. He was Chair of the Smoke Control Association for eight years and currently sits on: The Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee; BSI Committees for Fire Safety; and the board of the Construction and Building Services Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He also contributes to Fire Engineering and Smoke Control Association Guidance Documents.
Technical Director, Kingspan Light + Air
Conor has worked in the Smoke Control, Ventilation and Daylighting Industry since 1987. He was Chair of the Smoke Control Association for eight years and currently sits on: The Rooflight Association’s Technical Committee; BSI Committees for Fire Safety; and the board of the Construction and Building Services Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He also contributes to Fire Engineering and Smoke Control Association Guidance Documents.
Group Managing Director, Glazing Vision
Jon has been with Glazing Vision for 18 years. He’s worked on rooflight projects all over the world including Europe, Scandinavia, The Middle East, Asia and America. A former Chairman of NARM, Jon now sits on the Rooflight Association’s Marketing Committee & represents us at the CPA (Construction Products Association). In his spare time, he’s a triathlete and enjoys competing.
Group Managing Director, Glazing Vision
Jon has been with Glazing Vision for 18 years. He’s worked on rooflight projects all over the world including Europe, Scandinavia, The Middle East, Asia and America. A former Chairman of NARM, Jon now sits on the Rooflight Association’s Marketing Committee & represents us at the CPA (Construction Products Association). In his spare time, he’s a triathlete and enjoys competing.
Marketing Director, Whitesales
Sioned Yates is Marketing Director at Whitesales and brings with her 25+ years’ experience in strategic product development and marketing of building materials. Sioned is a valuable director on the Rooflight Association’s Marketing Committee and continues to advocate for digital advancement and accessibility to appeal to all daylighting organisations and professionals.
Marketing Director, Whitesales
Sioned Yates is Marketing Director at Whitesales and brings with her 25+ years’ experience in strategic product development and marketing of building materials. Sioned is a valuable director on the Rooflight Association’s Marketing Committee and continues to advocate for digital advancement and accessibility to appeal to all daylighting organisations and professionals.
Sales & Marketing Director, Hambleside Danelaw
Ian has spent his career in manufacturing, primarily in the water and construction sectors, in both large international organisations and SMEs. For the last ten years, he has been with Hambleside Danelaw who service the roofing sector with rooflights for industrial buildings. Ian led the Association’s Marketing Committee before being appointed as Chair in 2022. He also sits on the CPA’s committee that has developed the proposed Construction Product Competence Standard.
Sales & Marketing Director, Hambleside Danelaw
Ian has spent his career in manufacturing, primarily in the water and construction sectors, in both large international organisations and SMEs. For the last ten years, he has been with Hambleside Danelaw who service the roofing sector with rooflights for industrial buildings. Ian led the Association’s Marketing Committee before being appointed as Chair in 2022. He also sits on the CPA’s committee that has developed the proposed Construction Product Competence Standard.